Interlocking mechanism for switch and signal apparatus



(No Model.) 3 Sheetsf-She'et. 1.

G. KOBNIG,

IN'IERLOGKING: MEGHANISM POR SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

INVENTOR- TN; Norms iwi-rims` cc PHQTQUTHU., wAsHws (No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2'.

G.KOENIG. I INTERLOCKING MEGHANISM POR SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

'Patented Jan., 12, 1897.

Atty.

i @mw sheets-sheen 3.v

Patented Jan. 1,2, 1897.

G. KOB-Nm. INTERLOGKING MECHA-NISM POR SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

JT l

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE KOENIG, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SVITCII ANI) SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SIVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERLOCKING MECHANISMFOR SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,120, dated January 12, 1897.

Application filed June 3,1896. Serial No. 594,085. lNo model.)

To @ZZ whom, zt may con/cern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE KOENIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county o f Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking Mechanism for Switch and Signal Apparatus, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In large interlocking switch and signal plants considerable difficulty is found in arranging the mechanical interlocking within the tower on account of the width of such interlocking mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to so construct parts of the mechanical interlocking that when part or member thereof is shifted it will impart a movement to another similar or corresponding part or parts arranged parallel with the first part; and in general terms the invention consists in the construction and combination substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of a switch and signal operating machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanical interlocking of the machine. Fig. 3 isa sectional elevation showing the manner of connecting adjacent parts of the locking mechanism. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a modification in the manner of imparting movement from one of the locking devices to other similar locking devices.

In a suitable frame is mounted a series of bars l, provided with notches 4transverse of the same for the reception of locking-bars 2. The tops of the projections 3 between the notches in the bars l are formed with recesses or grooves for the reception of the lockingblocks 4f, which are adapted to move at right angles to the locking-bars 2. On the lockingbars 2 are attached dogs 5, having one or both ends inclined, and also pivotal fingers 6, having their free ends inclined or beveled. These dogs project above the surface of the locking-bars 2 and are adapted when the bars are shifted to pass into notches in the under side of the locking-blocks 4, while the fin- 406,212, granted July 2,

by the engagement of the beveled ends of the dogs or fingers with corresponding bevels adjacent to the notches on the under side of the locking-blocks and at the ends of the sections of such blocks to shift said locking-blocks longitudinally.

In suitable bearings in the frame of the ma- 6o chine below the locking` mechanism above described are mounted a series of shafts 7 7*, the., having secured thereto toothed sectors S 8, die., which are arranged to intermesh with teeth on the under side of the lockingbars 2. The projecting ends of these shafts are provided with operating-handles 9.

The construction so far described is fully shown and described in Letters. Patent No.

1880, to James T. 7o IIambay.

In order to avoid the widening out of the mechanical interlocking for large plants, as has heretofore been necessary7 to accommodate a large number of blocks included in one 7 5 combination, I provide for the shifting of one of the locking-blocks, as 4b, or the blocks in the line 4gb, by the locking-blocks ein. This shifting is effected by means of a lever 10, pivoted to the frame of the machine and con- 8o nected at its ends to the locking-blocks at and 4b, respectively.

There it is desired to operate two or more locking-blocks by a third locking-block, the arrangement shown at the middle of Fig. 2 is 85 employed. This arrangement consists of two levers ll-and 12, so pivoted to the frame of the machine that their adjacent ends may be connected to a locking-block, as ed, While their opposite ends are connected, respec- 9o tively, to other locking-blocks, as 4,@ and 4C.

The operation of my improvement, referring to the construction shown in the middle of Fig. 2, is as follows, and in this description it will be supposed that the bars t and 4e are to be shifted by the block Li0: In order to free these bars 4d and 4, the locking-bar 2c is first shifted to the left, so as to remove the dog 5 thereon out of line with the lockingblock 4,by turning the handle 9 to the right roo in Fig. 1. Next the handle 9j is shifted to the right, thereby shifting the locking-bar 2L1 in the same direction and bringing the dog 5 on said bar against the inclined end of the block -l-C and shifting that block outwardly or toward the top of the sheet. The Vfinger (S on the lockingbar being pivoted to said bar will not prevent the longitudinal movement of the block l". The upward movement of the locking-block i, operating through the lever ll, will push the locking-block Ll inwardly or toward the bot tom of the sheet, and this movement of the locking-block flfwill, through the medium of the lever l2, move the locking-block 4X outward or toward the top of the sheet. 'lhus it will be seen that by connecting two or more locking-blocks in the manner described two or more locking-blocks can be shifted through the operation of one block by the operatiiig-handles, as though they were continuations of cach other.

ln the construction shown in Figs. l. to 3, inclusive, two or more locking-blocks are connected together in such manner that when one is moved in either direction the other block or blocks will be moved in an opposite direction. In some forms of mechanical interlocking it is desirable that one of the locking-blocks should be capable of being shifted in one direction independently of any other block, but when shifted in the opposite direction movement should be imparted to other locking block or blocks. Such combined and independent movements can be effected by the construction shown in Figs. d to 7, inclusive. As shown in said figures, a lever 13 is pivoted on the frame in such manner that its ends will projectbeyond the ends of adjacent locking-blocks, but the locking-blocks are not in any way connected to the levers, so that one locking-block, as l, can be shifted down without changing the lever, and there- .fore without shifting the locking-block 4h. If, however, the locking-block et be pushed up, the locking-block Li-b will be pushed down -a corresponding distance.

In the construction shown in Fig. G two levers l-L and l5 are so arranged on the frame of the machine that their inner ends will be in line with the end of a locking-block l", while their outer ends are in line with lock ing-blocks Al-C and t, respectively. ln such a construction any one of the lockingbloeks can be shifted down without ailecting either of the other blocks, but if one locking-block be shifted outwardly or toward the top of the sheet one or both of the blocks l" and l-l will be pushed down. lf the block il be pushed up, the locking-block it will be pushed down, but the block llc will not be affected.

It is characteristic of .my improvement that one, two,or morelocking-blocks can be shifted throu-gh the medium of one block, or one, two, or more blocks can be shifted by one block, or the latter can be moved independently of the other.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In a mechanicalinterlockingmechanism for switches and signals, the combination of two or more parallel movable locking-blocks of such interlocking mechanism, means for shifting one of said locking-blocks, and one or more levers having a iixed fulcrum for transmitting motion from the driven lookin block to the other block or blocks, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mechanical interlocking mechanism for switches and signals, the combination of two or more parallel movable parts or mem bers of such interlocking mechanisms, means for shifting one of said parts or members, and mechanism so arranged between the driven part or member and the other part or parts, that the driven part ormember can bc shifted in one direction independent of the other part or parts, but when shifted in the opposite direction, movement will be imparted to the other part or parts, substantially as set fort-h.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

GE O R Gll li UEX l Gv.

lVitn esscs:

D inwIN S. Wolgco'rr, F. E. Garn-inn. 

